Bruise bunch gets it done

Hawaii's defense gives up a lot of yards, but makes up for it with big hits and execution

The numbers don't mean much to the man in charge of the Hawaii defense.

As beautiful as they are on offense, the stats most use as the conventional measuring sticks aren't pretty at all for the Warriors on the other side of the football. UH -- 5-2 in large part due to its No. 1 spot in total offense -- is ranked 108th among 119 NCAA Division I football teams with 408.86 yards allowed per game going into Saturday's homecoming encounter with Idaho.

New Mexico State rolled up 448 yards in UH's 49-30 victory Saturday. The game tape, however, shows Jerry Glanville something else: correct assignment and alignment, swarming to the ball and crunching tackles.

"We look at the assignments. Richie (defensive backs coach Miano) just said they went 13 plays in a row in the secondary where everybody did everything exactly the way they were supposed to. With their techniques, their assignments," Glanville said yesterday after his daily jog with Miano. "We look for people who do it the right way, who give us 100 percent hustle and go hit. It ain't that hard to figure out."

UH's style is to collect rent on the massive territory it yields with bruising physical play, often causing turnovers while demoralizing opposing players, sometimes knocking them out of the game.

In its current four-game winning streak, Hawaii has gathered 11 fumbles and interceptions and scored seven touchdowns after them.

Defensive end Mel Purcell's crushing hit on New Mexico State quarterback Chase Holbrook in the fourth quarter Saturday resulted in a UH touchdown by linebacker Adam Leonard. It basically iced the game and left Holbrook on the sideline collecting his wits.

This pivotal play might not have occurred in previous seasons because Purcell would either be out himself with an injury or worn down. Now he's in the game late, and effective enough throughout to earn the WAC Player of the Week award, which he did yesterday for the first time since 2003.

Glanville said the key is rotating the defensive linemen to keep them at their best.

"We've had two games where the two defensive ends and nose tackle took just 30 snaps," Glanville said. "If they're taking 106 snaps, they ain't gonna last."

That's why they were able to put up a fourth-quarter, goal-line stand to beat Nevada.

"It works for us," Purcell said. "Sometimes last year we were in there 10 plays straight and it was kind of tiring. It's good that we have fresh guys coming in every four or five plays. Whenever we feel like we need a rest we get a fresh guy.

"The whole time we're just rushing three guys. All three of us were running different schemes to try to confuse the linemen so we could get some single blocks. When we get freed up and one on one we can get after them," added Purcell, who was in on eight tackles, including four for loss.

Purcell also had a lot of support in the stands, as several family members made the trip to Las Cruces, N.M.

"I'm going to fly in his whole family for every game now," Glanville said.

"It's going to be a helluva expense. I gotta talk to Frazier and get the money to fly them in. If he plays like that, it's worth it. Forget about the assignments and what he's got to do. The effort was unbelievable. He was relentless. He absolutely wouldn't surrender."

Coach June Jones is happy with the defense produced by his former NFL boss.

"I'm a great believer in Jerry's schemes and Jerry as a person and what he does. The defense is a reflection of his personality," Jones said.

UH's other starting defensive end, Ikaika Alama-Francis, missed yesterday's conditioning drills with back spasms. It is not known yet if he will play Saturday. Keala Watson, who has played in all seven games, is listed as his backup at right end.

Corners, OLBs set:

The cornerbacks and outside linebackers have been the four most fluid positions on the team. But Glanville said yesterday that Myron Newberry and Gerard Lewis at the corners and outside linebackers Brad Kalilimoku and Micah Lau will likely retain their starting spots against Idaho.

"I would say yes unless something dramatic happens," Glanville said. "(No.) 8 (outside linebacker Tyson Kafentzis) may come back (from an ankle injury). That would change things. He's different than the rest."

Rotation likely:

Ross Dickerson was also awarded WAC Player of the Week honors yesterday, as a special teams player. He returned four kickoffs for 158 yards against the Aggies, and also caught six passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Like Purcell, Dickerson also won the same award in 2003, after his first career game. His debut included a kickoff return for 100 yards in a victory over Appalachian State.

The former starter at wideout moved to slot (which he played as a freshman) when Ryan Grice-Mullins hurt his ankle last month.

"He's turned it up. And he's played really tremendous football since Ryan's gone down. He's done everything, he's blocked. He's played really well," Jones said. "Hopefully (Ryan) he'll be available for this game. I would think that he would be available but we'll wait and see how he is."

When Grice-Mullins can play, Jones will likely work out a rotation to get them both in the game, he said.

Have a ball:

Freshman right guard John Estes was awarded a game ball for his efforts Saturday, Jones said.

"He's played well all year and he gets more confidence every game," Jones said.

Left tackle Tala Esera, left guard Hercules Satele, center Samson Satele, Estes, and right tackle Dane Uperesa have started every game for the Warriors this season.